We live too much in books and not enough in nature, and we are very much like the simpleton of a Pliny the Younger, who went on studying a Greek author while before his eyes Vesuvius was overwhelming five cities…

Quote by Anatole France

Topics: Books Quotes

All the historical books which contain no lies are extremely tedious.

All the historical books which contain no lies are extremely tedious.

What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven...

What can be more foolish than to think that all this rare fabric of heaven...

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to...

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to...

An education isnt how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you...

An education isnt how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you...

One thing above all gives charm to men's thoughts, and this is unrest. A mind...

One thing above all gives charm to men's thoughts, and this is unrest. A mind...

Religion has done love a great service by making it a sin.

Religion has done love a great service by making it a sin.

Existence would be intolerable if we were never to dream.

Existence would be intolerable if we were never to dream.

If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.

If the path be beautiful, let us not ask where it leads.

Chance is perhaps the pseudonym of God when he did not want to sign.

Chance is perhaps the pseudonym of God when he did not want to sign.

The books that everybody admires are those that nobody reads.

The books that everybody admires are those that nobody reads.

It is only the poor who pay cash, and that not from virtue, but because...

It is only the poor who pay cash, and that not from virtue, but because...

We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another...

We do not know what to do with this short life, yet we want another...

Chance is perhaps the pseudonym of God when he does not wish to sign his...

Chance is perhaps the pseudonym of God when he does not wish to sign his...

To imagine is everything, to know is nothing at all.

To imagine is everything, to know is nothing at all.

Without the utopians of other times, men would still live in caves, miserable and naked;...utopia...

Without the utopians of other times, men would still live in caves, miserable and naked;...utopia...

I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.

I prefer the folly of enthusiasm to the indifference of wisdom.

Without lies humanity would perish of despair and boredom.

Without lies humanity would perish of despair and boredom.

To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.

To accomplish great things, we must dream as well as act.

Talking about dreams is like talking about movies, since the cinema uses the language of...

Talking about dreams is like talking about movies, since the cinema uses the language of...

After convincing myself that was maybe you should at least help out your neighborhood, I...

After convincing myself that was maybe you should at least help out your neighborhood, I...